Chakri dynasty

The Chakri dynasty is the current reigning dynasty of the Kingdom of Thailand. The head of the house is the king, who is head of state. The family has ruled Thailand since the founding of the Rattanakosin era and the city of Bangkok in 1782; following the end of Taksin's reign, when the capital of Siam shifted to Bangkok. The royal house was founded by Rama I, an Ayutthaya military leader of Sino-Mon descent.

Prior to his accession to the throne, Rama I held for years the title Chakri, the civil chancellor. In founding the dynasty, the king himself chose "Chakri" as the name for it. The emblem of the house is composed of the discus (Chakra) and the trident (Trishula), the celestial weapons of the gods Vishnu and Shiva, of whom the Thai sovereign is seen as an incarnation.

The current head of the house is Vajiralongkorn who was proclaimed king on 1 December 2016, but has reigned with retroactive effect since 13 October 2016 after the death of his father Bhumibol Adulyadej. The house's current seat is the Grand Palace. On Saturday, 4 May 2019, the coronation of Vajiralongkorn, with the traditional ceremony, occurred in Bangkok.

Royal family

The present royal family of Thailand belongs to the House of Mahidol (Thai: ราชสกุลมหิดล; RTGS: Ratchasakun Mahidon), a cadet branch of the Chakri dynasty. The House was founded by Prince Mahidol Adulyadej (1891–1929) and Princess Srinagarindra (1900–1995). The Prince was a son of King Chulalongkorn and his wife Queen Savang Vadhana. The Prince was also the half-brother of both King Vajiravudh and King Prajadhipok. After the death of King Ananda Mahidol (Prince Mahidol's elder son), King Bhumibol Adulyadej (the Prince's younger son) ascended the throne in 1946. In 1949 the King married his first cousin once removed, Mom Rajawongse Sirikit Kitiyakara (a daughter of Mom Chao Nakkhatra Mangala Kitiyakara, a grandson of King Chulalongkorn). Bhumibol was succeeded by his son Vajiralongkorn officially on 13 October 2016, but was proclaimed King on 1 December 2016.

Members

This is a list of current members of the royal family:

• The King and Queen (the sovereign and his wife)
  • The Princess Rajasarini Siribajra (the King's eldest daughter)
  • Princess Sirivannavari (the King's youngest daughter)
  • Prince Dipangkorn Rasmijoti (the King's youngest son and heir presumptive)

Descendants of Rama IX

• Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother (the King's mother)
  • Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya (the King's elder sister)
  • The Princess Royal (the King's younger sister)
  • The Princess Srisavangavadhana (the King's younger sister)
    • Princess Siribachudhabhorn (the King's niece)
    • Princess Aditayadornkitikhun (the King's niece)

Descendants of Rama V

• The Princess Suddhanarinatha (the King's ex-wife and maternal first cousin)
• Prince Chalermsuk Yugala (the King's paternal half-second cousin)

Other members

Descendants of Rama V

• Prince Nawaphan Yugala (the King's paternal half-second cousin)
• Prince Thikhamphon Yugala (the King's paternal half-second cousin)
• Prince Chatrichalerm Yugala (the King's paternal half-second cousin)
• Prince Chulcherm Yugala (the King's paternal half-second cousin)
• Princess Nopphadonchaloemsi Yugala (the King's paternal half-second cousin)

Descendants of Rama IV

• Prince Charunritdet Jayankura (the King's paternal half-first cousin twice removed)
• Princess Uthaikanya Bhanubandhu (the King's paternal half-first cousin once removed)

Other noble relatives

• Royal Noble Consort Sineenat Bilaskalayani (the King's concubine)
• Sujarinee Vivacharawongse (the King's ex-wife and Princess Sirivannavari's mother)
  • Juthavachara Vivacharawongse and Riya Gough (the King's eldest son & daughter-in-law)
  • Vacharaesorn Vivacharawongse (the King's second son)
  • Chakriwat Vivacharawongse (the King's third son)
  • Vatchrawee Vivacharawongse (the King's fourth son)
• Dame Srirasmi Suwadee (the King's ex-wife and Prince Dipangkorn's mother)

Descendants of Rama IX

• Peter Ladd Jensen (Princess Ubolratana's ex-husband)
  • Dame Ploypailin Jensen and David Wheeler (the King's niece & nephew-in-law)
    • Maximus Wheeler (the King's grandnephew)
    • Leonardo Wheeler (the King's grandnephew)
    • Alexandra Wheeler (the King's grandniece)
  • Dame Sirikitiya Jensen (the King's niece)
• Virayudh Tishyasarin (the Princess Srisavangavadhana's ex-husband)

Descendants of Mahidol Adulyadej

• Dame Dhasanawalaya and Sinthu Sornsongkram (the King's paternal first cousin and her husband)
  • Jitat and Jessica Sornsongkram (the King's paternal first cousin once removed and his wife)

Descendants of Rama V

• Induratana Paribatra (the King's paternal half-first cousin once removed)
• Dame Wutchaloem Vudhijaya (the King's paternal half-first cousin once removed)
• Dame Phansawali Kitiyakara (the King's paternal half-second cousin, maternal aunt by marriage, and the Princess Suddhanarinatha's mother)
  • The Hon. Sarali Kitiyakara (the King's maternal first cousin and the Princess Suddhanarinatha's younger sister)
• Phanuma Yugala (the King's paternal half-second cousin)
• Sisawangwong Bunyachittradun (the King's paternal half-second cousin)
• Phumaripihrom Schell and Jean-Marie Schell (the King's paternal half-second cousin and her husband)
• Patthamanarangsi Senanarong (the King's paternal half-second cousin)
• Dame Busba Sathanapong (the King's maternal aunt)

Descendants of Rama IV

• Phanwarophat Svetarundra (the King's paternal second cousin once removed)

Line of succession

Notes

• Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya (born 1951), eldest daughter of King Rama IX, renounced her right of succession for herself and her heirs upon her marriage in 1972.
• Juthavachara Vivacharawongse (born 1979), Vacharaesorn Vivacharawongse (born 1981), Chakriwat Vivacharawongse (born 1983), and Vatchrawee Vivacharawongse (born 1985), the sons of King Rama X and Sujarinee Vivacharawongse, are not in the line of succession to the throne.

History

Monarchs

Timeline

Front Palaces

The Maha Uparat (มหาอุปราช) or the Krom Phrarajawang Boworn Sathan Mongkol (Vice or Second King of Siam/Viceroy of Siam) (กรมพระราชวังบวรสถานมงคล) was an office that was bestowed on the highest ranking prince, frequently the monarch's younger brother or son. Until 1885 every Chakri monarch had appointed a prince to this office. The Uprarat and his miniature court would reside at the Front Palace (วังหน้า) (a palace complex to the north of the Grand Palace, now the site of the Bangkok National Museum). By tradition the Uparat was designated the heir to the throne, however only Prince Itsarasunthon was able to ascend the throne as King Phutthaloetla Naphalai. The office was extremely prestigious and carried with it almost equal status to the king, this can be seen in Prince Chutamani (younger brother of King Mongkut), who was elevated to Vice King Pinklao in 1851 (he carried with him the styles and titles of a King). The office was abolished by King Chulalongkorn when his Uparat and cousin Prince Wichaichan died. He then declared his oldest son the crown prince of Siam, but not Uparat.

Rear Palace

Krom Phrarajawang Boworn Sathan Phimuk (กรมพระราชวังบวรสถานพิมุข), or the Rear Palace, was another office inherited from the Kingdom of Ayutthaya. However, since the founding of the dynasty there has only been one rear palace. Prince Anurak Devesh was the nephew of King Phutthayotfa Chualok (his mother Princess Thepsuthavadi was the king's elder sister) and was appointed to the office in 1785.

Crown Princes

The Crown Prince of Thailand or Sayam Makutrajakuman (สยามมกุฎราชกุมาร) is the designated and heir apparent to the throne and headship of the dynasty. The title was created in 1886 when King Chulalongkorn appointed his eldest son by Princess Consort Savang Vadhana, Prince Vajirunhis as Sayam Makutrajakuman. The title was copied directly from the Western tradition. Since then, there have only been three crown princes. The most recent crown prince, Maha Vajiralongkorn, was invested with the title in 1972 and became King in 2016. The succession is governed by the 1924 Palace Law of Succession passed by King Vajiravudh.

Queens

Family tree

Cadet houses

Royal houses

Viceregal houses

See also

Notes

References

External links

• Chakri Dynasty and the City of Angels (archived)
• The Chakri Dynasty 1782 (archived)
• The Siamese Royalty
• The Royal Houses of the Chakri Dynasty
• History of the Front Palaces